OTL: Episode #513- Guided Meditation VR, Another way to fund CPS, A local Syrian-American sings his heart out

Mike Stephen talks with:   Cubicle Ninjas CEO Josh Farkas transporting yourself to exotic locations without leaving your home via the brand new Guided Meditation VR app;   Center for Tax and Budget Accountability executive director Ralph Martire about funding Chicago Public Schools via taxes on services; and   local musician Bassel Almadani about his smooth funky tunes and his experiences as a Syrian-American artist.   Meanwhile, we discuss what it’s like running into a genuine “Chi-lebrity.”   This week’s local music is provided by the aforementioned Bassel & The Supernaturals.   OTL host Mike Stephen and Mr. Fix-It host Lou Manfredini, fellow “Chi-lebrities,” pose for the paparazzi at a remote at The Hidden Shamrock in Lincoln Park. [photo circa December 13, 2014]   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #510- Divvy bike equity, Legendary Dudas, The Secret History of Joe Daley

Mike Stephen talks with:   Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield about the Divvy bike sharing system investing in Chicago’s west and south sides via their Divvy for Everyone outreach effort;   Batavia-born multimedia writer Kevin Jakubowski about creating the live-action Legendary Dudas television show for Nickelodeon; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about free jazz pioneer saxman Joe Daley for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we update OTL #503 with the news that the Chicago City Council ruled to protect our urban coyotes.   This week’s local music is provided music provided by The Socialists.   OTL host Mike Stephen warms up for OTL #510 in a seventh floor radio studio in the Tribune Tower.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #504- A journalist’s Chicago taco journey, Anne Elizabeth Moore wins a house in Detroit, The Secret History of John Gilmore

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Tribune writer Nick Kindelsperger at La Lagartija Taqueria about his monthlong taco-eating journey and why and how Chicago is a taco town;   author and cultural critic Anne Elizabeth Moore about her new book Threadbare: Clothes, Sex & Trafficking and how she won a house Detroit via the Write A House program; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about Sun Ra saxophonist John Gilmore for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we update the House Bill 5902 (aka Speech Rights of Student Journalists Act) story from OTL #499, and we actually side with Mayor Rahm Emanuel… when WTTW’s Paris Schutz broke the “off-the-record” journalism rule!   This week’s local music is provided music provided by Early Autumn Station.   Chicago Tribune writer Nick Kindelsperger and OTL host Mike Stephen talk tacos at La Lagartija Taqueria. #mikelovestacos   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #501- Sister Donna Quinn on her life of activism, Run Domestic Violence Out of Town, Dina Bach performs live

Mike Stephen talks with:   activist nun Donna Quinn about fighting for gender equality as detailed in her new book Chicago Catholic Women: Its Role in Founding the Catholic Women’s Movement;   Run Domestic Violence Out of Town marathon campaign coordinator Bethany Gomillion Thompson about how running the Chicago Marathon can benefit the fight against domestic violence; and   local singer-songwriter Dina Bach, who provided the soundtrack for the show! Check out her new EP Kiss Me Like That.   Meanwhile, we discuss Melissa’s Pal Crépes… the city’s first officially licensed food cart!   Local musician Dina Bach previewed her new EP Kiss Me Like That all throughout OTL #501. Fortunately, OTL host Mike Stephen is only posing here.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.